Home Automation Info

Reviewed by JCL Automation (www.jclautomation.com)

Overall Rating: 7.2 out of 10

Home Automation Product Features

The Harmony 890 provides a universal remote for the audio/video components in your entertainment center, and can also control ZWAVE lighting devices in your home. This RF-based remote allows the A/V components to be placed in a cabinet and controls each component via an IR emitter similar to other universal remotes. The color LCD display shows common tasks such as "watch a movie" or "watch HDTV", when selected, setup each device in the system for the task. The remote can also control each individual device directly via it's IR commands.

The Harmony 890 includes a sleek docking station that keeps the remote's included rechargeable lithium-ion battery fully charged. The remote will work for a week without recharging under normal use, but the included docking station also allows the remote to be used while charging. The silver 890 remote communicates with a Wireless Extender unit placed near the A/V components that contains the jacks for the IR emitter cables connected to each A/V device.

One common issue with the 890 Remote is the key placement design, with no real space between the bottom keypad keys, can cause occasional mis-keying triggering an unintended action.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10

Ease of Installation

The Harmony 890 is designed to be installed by the homeowner using a PC connected to the Internet. After downloading and installing the Harmony software, the installation process presents a series of questions or choices which must be answered before proceeding to the next step. Once all devices and connections between components are defined, the 890 Remote and the Wireless Extender are each connected to the PC in successon to be refreshed with all the configuration information and IR codes for each device. At this point the system is ready to be tested.

If all tasks and device controls work as expected after the above, then you are ready to use the system. However, if any information was entered incorrectly or the tasks or IR codes just don't work as expected you must begin the troubleshooting phase. This is similar to the configuration phase where you are presented a number of questions aimed at identifying the issue. Each time you select a change you must refresh the 890 Remote and the Wireless Extender, then re-test the function. If your changes do not resolve your issue then you must call Logitech Support for help. This will initiate another series of changes that should lead to a working system.

The issue with the above, especially for expereinced installers, is the troubleshooting effort with necessary refreshes of both components can take considerably longer than anticipated. The other issue is even if you know what is wrong with the configuration you may not be able to correct it if the option is not presented to you by the software. Which means a call to tech support, as only they have the tools to change things like delay times that are frequently required in command sequences for proper operation.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Home Automation Product Reliability

Once the Harmony 890 is configured and tested successfully its operation is quite reliable. In any system with IR emitters the most frequent problem is the stick-on emitter can dry out and fall from its intended location, which results in the IR codes being missed by the A/V device IR sensor. A little super glue will generally fix this issue.

The Harmony 890 comes with a one year warranty.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10